The 1926–27 Toronto St. Patricks season was the tenth season and the last under the St. Patricks banner for the Toronto
National Hockey League (NHL) franchise. In February 1927,
Conn Smythe and investors purchased the St. Patricks and changed the name to the
Toronto Maple Leafs. On the ice, the team finished in fifth place, out of the playoffs.
Offseason
Regular season
After being turned down by the St. Patricks as coach to start the season,
Conn Smythe used the success of the
New York Rangers team he had assembled, to get an invitation to take over the team. At first, Smythe turned down the offer, saying that he wanted to be an owner or part-owner of the club instead. The St. Pats were for sale, and partner
J. P. Bickell
John Paris Bickell, also known as Jack Bickell, (September 26, 1884 – August 22, 1951) was a Canadian businessman, philanthropist, and sports team owner. He is best known for his long-time association with the Toronto Maple Leafs professional i ...
offered Smythe a chance to become part-owner. The club had reached a tentative deal to sell the club for $200,000, making Bickell's share $40,000. Bickell offered to hold onto his share, if Smythe could raise $160,000 to pay of the other share-holders and take over the team. On February 14, 1927, Smythe and partners paid $85,000 with the final $75,000 to pay off the club due within 30 days. Smythe renamed the team the Maple Leafs, a name and insignia he felt would be popular, more popular than St. Patricks.
The club played its final game as the St. Patricks against Detroit in
Windsor, Ontario on February 15, 1927, and their first as the Maple Leafs at
Arena Gardens on February 17, 1927. The Leafs wore new white uniforms with a green maple leaf and Toronto written on the sweater. The Leafs won their first game 4–1, under new coach
Alex Romeril. Smythe took over as governor, but did not assume the management and coaching of the Leafs until 1927–28. He had commitments to coach the
University of Toronto team and the Varsity Grads, a team of former U of T students who had played for the U of T team. He would coach the Grads to the
Allan Cup title.
Final standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
Player statistics
Regular season
;Scoring
;Goaltending
Playoffs
The St. Pats did not qualify for the playoffs.
Transactions
*September 7, 1926: Signed Free Agent
Butch Keeling
Melville Sydney "Butch" Keeling (August 10, 1905 – November 12, 1984) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. A left winger, he played 12 National Hockey League seasons with the Toronto St. Patricks/Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Ra ...
*September 27, 1926: Acquired
Corbett Denneny
Charles Corbett "Corb" Denneny (January 25, 1894 – January 16, 1963) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played professionally from 1912 to 1931, including nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Arenas, ...
,
Leo Bourgeault
Joseph Armand Leo Bourgault (January 17, 1903 - July 14, 1978) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with four teams between 1926 and 1935. He was born in West Nipissing, Sturgeon Falls, Ontario.
...
and
Laurie Scott from the
Saskatoon Shieks (
PrHL) for cash
*October 13, 1926: Signed Free Agents
Bill Brydge and
Danny Cox
*October 15, 1926: Lost Free Agent
Reg Reid to the
Stratford Nationals
The Stratford Nationals were a semi-professional baseball team based in Stratford, Ontario, that competed in the Intercounty Baseball League, an independent baseball league.
Early history
For many years, Stratford was a premier franchise in the I ...
of the
CPHL
*October 16, 1926: Lost
Mike Neville off Waivers to the
Hamilton Tigers of the
CPHL
*October 18, 1926: Lost
Francis Cain off Waivers to the
Hamilton Tigers of the
CPHL
*October 18, 1926: Lost Norm Shay off Waivers to the New Haven Eagles of the Canadian-American Hockey League, Can-Am League
*October 18, 1926: Traded Babe Dye to the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Black Hawks for $15,000
*October 28, 1926: Signed Free Agent Albert Pudas
*November 1, 1926: Lost Free Agent Chris Speyer (ice hockey), Chris Speyer to the Niagara Falls Cataracts of the
CPHL
*November 3, 1926: Signed Free Agent Ace Bailey
*November 10, 1926: Traded Albert Pudas to the Windsor Hornets of the
CPHL for cash
*November 12, 1926: Lost Free Agent Howard Lockhart to the
Hamilton Tigers of the
CPHL
*November 15, 1926: Acquired Jesse Spring from the New York Americans for
Laurie Scott
*November 17, 1926: Lost Free Agent Gerry Munro to the Detroit Greyhounds of the American Hockey Association (1926-1942), AHA
*January 7, 1927: Acquired Haldor Halderson from the Victoria Cougars (PCHL) for Pete Bellefeuille
*February 1, 1927: Transaction from September 27, 1926, voided;
Corbett Denneny
Charles Corbett "Corb" Denneny (January 25, 1894 – January 16, 1963) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played professionally from 1912 to 1931, including nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Arenas, ...
,
Leo Bourgeault
Joseph Armand Leo Bourgault (January 17, 1903 - July 14, 1978) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with four teams between 1926 and 1935. He was born in West Nipissing, Sturgeon Falls, Ontario.
...
and
Laurie Scott returned to Saskatoon Sheiks (
PrHL), cash returned to Toronto
*February 1, 1927: Acquired George Patterson (ice hockey), George Patterson from
Hamilton Tigers of the
CPHL for loan of Albert Pudas and $5,000
*March 7, 1927: Signed Free Agent Lloyd Gross
*March 17, 1927: Signed Free Agent Beattie Ramsay
See also
*1926–27 NHL season
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1926-27 Toronto St. Patricks Season
Toronto St. Patricks seasons
1926–27 NHL season by team, Toronto
1926–27 in Canadian ice hockey by team, Toronto